Is There a Problem with Paul?

Paul, an apostle-sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead- Galatians 1:1 (NIV)

I recently heard Pastor Gary Hamrick relate a conversation he had with an Orthodox Jewish acquaintance in Israel as to why the gentleman had an issue with Jesus. The man quickly countered and said, “Oh, I have no problem with Jesus. My problem is with Paul. He was a traitor. He turned against his Jewish faith and teaching.”

Paul is by far the most instrumental first century figure to preach the Gospel of Yeshua of Nazareth as Israel’s prophesied Messiah. Many love him and there are a few who heartily dislike him. Paul began as Saul, born into a Jewish family in the Roman province of Tarsus (modern south-central Turkey). In later life he joined the faction of the elite Jewish sect called the Pharisees (Philippians 3:5-6).

His journey to faith began, amazingly, with a deep-seated hatred of the people of the way (Christianity-Acts 9:2, 24:14-). He zealously persecuted the Church with arrests and even participated in one execution that we know of (Acts 7:54-8:2).

But who died and made Paul the spokesman for presenting the Gospel? Jesus did (Acts 9:15-16).

Saul, as he was first known, was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27). After his miraculous conversion he was called to take the message of the Messiah to the Gentiles. In doing so he changed his name from the Jewish Saul to the Romanized Paulus to be more readily acceptable to Gentile society.

I have read many bible teachers who refer to what he preached as “Paul’s gospel.” But was it Paul’s ideas? He taught it but it was not his gospel or even his idea. He received this teaching from no other than Christ Himself. He was so cautious in misrepresenting it that he placed himself, or even any angel, under divine curse should they preach a gospel other than the one he first preached (Galatians 1:8).

Let the reader be aware in the latter reference to angelic beings bringing a false gospel. It is well to investigate the full message and meaning of any angelic announcement of a gospel and not the Gospel of biblical Scripture. If a message denies that Jesus exists within the Triune Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it is anathema, or under the Divine Curse of God. I defy anyone to show in Scripture where Paul taught such a blasphemy that denied the deity of Jesus. He always championed the full deity of Jesus Christ, for only God could be the only Perfect way to redemption.

There was never a problem with Paul. In coming to believe and follow the Way he did not betray his Jewish roots; he enhanced them through the fullness of God in the flesh (2^nd John 1:7). There is no other name given to us by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). The Word of God stands firm and has never been proven wrong. 

Paul preached what he received in direct revelation from Jesus Christ Himself, and never compromised or changed it, and neither should we. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1). Let us be encouraged and stand firm in that.

Ken